If you have played VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action or explored the library of the Japanese NEC PC-9800 computer, you know that look. It is gritty, dark, and filled with distinctive checkerboard patterns. It feels futuristic yet undeniably retro.
This aesthetic is defined by one crucial technique: Dithering.
While modern games try to hide pixels, the PC-98 style embraces them. Today, we will explore why this technique was born, how it evolved into an artistic choice, and how you can replicate that cyberpunk "tech-noir" vibe using ImageToPixel.art.
1. The 16-Color Challenge
To understand the art, you must understand the machine.
In the 1980s and 90s, the NEC PC-9801 was the standard computer in Japan. Unlike modern screens that display millions of colors, the early PC-98 models had a strict limitation: they could only display 16 colors at once from a palette of 4096.
Imagine painting a sunset or a neon-lit city with only 16 crayons. You can't just blend colors smoothly. This limitation forced artists to get creative. They couldn't create new colors, so they had to "fake" them.
2. Dithering: From Necessity to Texture
Dithering is the process of arranging pixels of two different colors in a pattern to create the illusion of a third color. For example, alternating black and white pixels looks like grey from a distance.
However, not all dithering is created equal.
- Floyd-Steinberg Dithering: This is an "error diffusion" method. It scatters pixels randomly to create smooth gradients. It looks natural but sometimes "messy".
- Bayer Dithering (Ordered Dithering): This uses a fixed, repeating mathematical pattern (like a 2x2 or 4x4 grid). It creates a structured, mesh-like texture.
The PC-98 Aesthetic relies on Bayer Dithering. In games like VA-11 HALL-A, this checkerboard pattern isn't just a technical trick; it is the fundamental texture of the world. It gives the image a "digital," manufactured feel that fits perfectly with cyberpunk themes.
3. The "Cyberpunk" Formula: Neon vs. Darkness
Why does this style look so good for sci-fi? It's about the tension between the dithered darkness and the solid neon lights.
In our research, we found that the most striking PC-98 cyberpunk images use high-intensity Bayer dithering for shadows and backgrounds, contrasted against solid, high-saturation neon colors (pinks, cyans, greens) for lights and UI elements.
The dithering acts like a "fog" or digital noise in the dark areas, making the clean, bright neon lights pop out aggressively. This "Neon Light Piercing the Dithered Fog" effect is the secret to the visual tension in this style.
4. How to Recreate the "PC-98 Look"
Want to turn your photo into a retro anime scene from 1990? Here is the "Exaggerated" preset logic from our engine:
- Dithering Algorithm: Choose Bayer. This is non-negotiable for this style.
- Dithering Strength: Crank it up to 60% - 100%. We want the pattern to be visible. It's not a bug; it's a feature. You want to see that "mesh" texture.
- Color Count: Set this strictly to 16. If you use more, you lose the authentic feel.
- Palette Strategy: If possible, pick a palette with deep darks (blues/purples) and bright neon highlights.
- Pixel Size: Medium (4px - 10px). The pixels need to be big enough for the dithering pattern to be readable.
- Bonus Effect: Enable Scanlines (Strength 15-30%) or a Phosphor Mask. This mimics the old CRT monitors these games were played on, softening the harsh dither patterns just enough to make them cohesive.
Summary
Dithering started as a workaround for hardware limitations, but it survived as a beloved artistic style. It represents a time when limitations fueled creativity.
At ImageToPixel.art, we give you the controls to bring that texture back. Don't just reduce the colors—embrace the noise.